Shielding Gillian (Delta Team Two #1) - Susan Stoker Page 0,17

knew she’d replay those three words over and over in her head for the rest of her life…however short it might turn out to be.

She’d had her share of boyfriends, but for the most part, she’d never felt as if they’d put her first. She’d dated a musician who’d moved to LA to pursue his career. She would’ve gone with him…if he’d asked. He didn’t. Then there was the accountant who she hadn’t seen for three months around tax time. Also, the guy who loved sports so much he never asked her over when his favorite team was playing because she would distract him.

Walker didn’t even know her, and he was putting her above capturing six ruthless terrorist hijackers.

“I’m doing it,” she told him. “I hope to be able to officially meet you soon, Walker Nelson. Be careful.” Then, without waiting for his response—because she had a feeling he’d be able to talk her out of it—she clicked out of the phone app and turned off the screen. As it faded to black, she prayed her plan would actually work and the assholes who were keeping them hostage would actually say something incriminating, and that Walker and his friends would hear them.

She held the phone face up and waited for Henry to realize that he’d left her alone with his cell. Surprisingly, it took another few minutes. When he did, he raced back up the aisle and snatched his phone from her hand. He shoved it in his back pocket and smacked her across the face. “What’d you tell him?” he barked.

“Nothing!” Gillian protested. “I hung up when you left.”

“You’d better not be lying,” he hissed as he stood over her threateningly.

“I’m not! I swear!”

Kicking her once more, Henry then turned and left. Gillian caught Andrea’s eye and tried to smile reassuringly. She wanted to tell her and the others that help was coming. That hopefully this would all be a bad memory soon, but she didn’t dare.

She hoped Walker was being honest with her, and that the hijackers’ friend would be released. Maybe then they could all get out of here with their lives.

Chapter Four

Trigger stood on the edge of the tarmac. Every muscle in his body was tense. He’d heard Gillian get smacked around and hated hearing the fear in her voice. But he couldn’t deny what she’d done would be helpful. Maybe not right now, but later, once this was over, the officials could listen to the hijackers talking and learn what their plan had been. From what he could tell, the hijacker who’d taken the phone hadn’t realized it was still on, and he prayed the recordings would be audible.

For now, however, they had a plane to storm and hostages to rescue. That was their main objective. Why they were there in the first place.

And they were out of time. It was oh-four-hundred and the deadline the hijackers had given was quickly approaching. Hugo Lamas had been freed, but the second the vehicle had left the prison grounds, it had been hit with a rocket-propelled grenade. Hugo, and everyone else in the vehicle, had been blown to bits.

No one knew who was behind the hit. Was it the Cartel of the Suns taking care of one of their own so he wouldn’t talk? Was it someone in the military or government who didn’t want him released? A rival drug gang? No one had any answers, and that made Trigger and his team antsy. Whoever was behind the assassination either had inside information about his release or had been watching and waiting. Either way, if Luis and the other hijackers got wind of the fact their friend had been killed, who knew what they might do in retaliation.

There was no more time to stall. The men on the plane were expecting their friend to appear, and when he didn’t, they were going to start killing innocent civilians. It was the Deltas’ job to prevent that.

“Everyone know their roles?” Trigger asked through their hands-free radios strapped around their necks. When they spoke, it triggered the connection to open.

“Ten-four.”

“Yes.”

“Gotcha.”

The answers were immediate and confident. Trigger’s adrenaline was coursing through his veins. They were ready to storm the plane. He and Lefty would go in from the same door the food was delivered through. Grover, Brain, and Oz would breech through the back hatch, Doc would take out the emergency exit door on one side at the wings and Lucky would take the other side. They were hoping the simultaneous